Flash cards are an incredibly useful tool for helping you memorize anything. You should use them whether you’re learning to code, studying for an exam, or even doing some public speaking.

You can jot facts and details onto the cards and use them as prompts. Or with double-sided cards you can write a question on one side and the answer on the other, and you’ve got a ready-made pop quiz to test yourself at any time.

But you don’t need to have an actual set of cards and a pen; your phone can do the job just as well. Let’s take a look at the best flash card apps for Android.

1. Quizlet

Quizlet is the best all-around flash card app. It’s got a clean, modern interface, and is easy to use. It also works on your phone, tablet, and laptop.

The service offers loads of downloadable card sets on almost any topic. You can use them in a range of tests, from a basic flash card mode, to quizzes, and also a match game where you work against the clock to pair the two sides of each card. You can create your own flash card sets, too, of course.

It’s also great for learning in class. Quizlet Live lets you join group quizzes hosted by your teacher by scanning a QR code or entering a passcode.

The downsides? Quizlet locks some features behind a subscription, including the ability to use the app offline and night mode.

2. AnkiDroid Flashcards

AnkiDroid Flashcards has a less refined design, but packs in plenty of extra features that make it worth a look. Among these are an eye and battery-friendly night mode, plus some comprehensive statistics that let you track your learning.

The app also offer lots of downloadable card packs, on top of the ones you can make yourself.

AnkiDroid shows you cards in the form of the classic flash card system: you see the question on one side, then tap to flip it over and see the answer. To make it more powerful, the app uses the spaced repetition concept. Cards are repeated more or less frequently based on how well you understand the information it’s giving you.

4. Lexilize Flashcards Maker

Despite its name, Lexilize Flashcards Maker doesn’t need you to make cards. It’s a language-learning app, and offers card sets for more than 118 languages. There’s also audio to help you with pronunciations.

The app helps you learn through a series of random games, with each language pack split into many categories so you can easily focus on areas you need to improve.

Lexilize isn’t a replacement for something like Duolingo (or the best free alternatives to Duolingo). But if you’re already learning a language elsewhere or just want to brush up on your skills, it’s a useful companion

6. Rolandos Flashcards

Rolandos Flashcards is another, and even more basic, app for casual use. It also allows you to create cards on a desktop. But it isn’t cloud-based. You view your cards via a unique access code that’s assigned to every new set.

What we love best about Rolandos Flashcards is its trustworthiness. The app is free, has no ads, and requires no extra permissions to run. It won’t track you or snoop through your data. You don’t need an account to use it, even when you use the web editor. It’s free software in its purest form.

7. Cram.com Flashcards

Cram.com users have created more than 75 million flashcards that you can share and learn from. There are so many that you’ll find something on almost every subject, but with so many decks for the same topic, you have no way of knowing which is the best.

Thankfully, it’s easy to make your own as well, and you can set them as public or private.

There are three ways to view your cards: regular, memorize, and cram mode, where the cards repeat at set intervals. The app is simple with a bold design. In addition to learning, it’s a good choice if you’re giving a presentation and need cards for prompts.

8. Brainscape Flashcards

Brainscape has a vast number of card decks available, and the service is available to schools and businesses. If your organization wants its teams to develop their skills, this is the app to choose.

It offers a combination of certified classes and user-generated sets. The quality is high, but not all of them are free. Some are effectively try-before-you-buy, and you can only unlock the full set through a subscription. You can build and share your own, as well.

Brainscape lacks the more detailed features of something like Quizlet, but it’s good-looking and fun to use.

Other Ways to Learn

Flash card apps are a great way help commit new skills to memory. If you want the most well-rounded option, then Quizlet is pretty much unbeatable. For something lighter and less full-on, Buffl is a good starting point.

I am a math teacher and have lots of index card flash cards that have the problem on one side and the worked out problem on the back.... typing in math is time consuming and I want to be able to write the work out. Is there any flashcard app that lets you use a stylist to write out the flashcards.... thank you

I am currently learning Spanish, so flashcards are pretty handy. I use the Coffee Break Spanish podcast to practice my listening skills and I use FlashcardsMate (http://www.flashcardsmate.com) to create and test my flashcards. I am old school, so I like that I can use it through the browser, so I can use it on my phone or at home on my PC.

I personally can't wait until "modern-styled" is left behind in favor of "post-modern-styled." Anything at all would be an improvement over the drab, pastel, simplistic boredom of the modern-style which accomplishes nothing more than precluding any distinction offered by good graphic design.

Andy is a former print journalist and magazine editor who has been writing about technology for 15 years. In that time he has contributed to countless publications and produced copywriting work for large tech companies. He has also provided expert comment for the media and hosted panels at industry events.